Simpler Budgeting Worksheets

How budgeting worksheets work

What's the best budgeting worksheet found in the internet today and how does it work? The answer to this question can be summed up in two words: it depends. There are many budgeting worksheets going around the internet most of which are designed by experts. I tried surfing around looking for worksheets which are designed by housewives but I haven't found one yet or will never be. A housewife's personal touch will make the worksheets feel closer to home. Presently looking at worksheets I feel that I'm looking at something very foreign to me. It maybe that or I need to study the forms more and adjust myself to the worksheets than them adjusting to me. This is understandable since most experts don't go to supermarkets and buy things personally. Experts try to incorporate into worksheets what they think every housewife needs to accomplish. What they make are “generic” worksheets.

The budgeting worksheet to choose

However if I'm forced to choose, I'd pick the one that's more applicable to my needs. Maybe after downloading the form I'd delete those that I don't need and add those which I can I can. Since I'm not very keen in accounting every dollar I spend, I'll pick a worksheet which uses a whole sale approach. I have been using this style of approach ever since I started budgeting. What I do is to write the entire amount found in the receipts not caring in itemizing them. I add them all up after a month and deduct them to the family income.

Disadvantages of wholesale budgeting

But this has many disadvantages. First the entries are not totally accurate. There are many incidental expenses which I fail to take into account and have no idea how much they are. Another defect is that I have no way of knowing where I can save. Since I don't itemize my purchases I'm not familiar with the prices of each product. I always buy the same products all the time without bothering to check if there are cheaper alternatives. Third, since the expenses are all lump up together, I can' trace whether the money was used for food, clothing, or medicine. I place all the receipts together in one big box and sorting them out gives me headache.

It's more on the question of attitude

I know I have to do better than what I'm doing now but I'm still trying to decide what worksheet I'm going to use. I know that choosing the right worksheet is not the problem. Mine is more of an attitude problem. Most housewives have no need of these budgeting worksheets before. Making one now is like accepting the reality that things have really turn for the worse and it's hard to accept that reality. Denials still persist in many Americans' minds. The harsh economic condition for some is not real and it's just a passing event which will go away anytime soon. And budgeting is not part of that reality. But the sooner we accept it, including me, the better we can fight it and make our lives better. And using budgeting worksheets is one of the best weapons in overcoming the problem.